The Restoration of The Rauh

My name is Janice Hanna, and I have taken on the restoration of the 120-year-old Rauh Building in Newell, WV. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to own my own restaurant, and when searching for a location, I discovered the historic Rauh Building, which was slated for demolition. As a history teacher for many years, I have always been disappointed to see old buildings torn down in communities instead of being saved. I took the leap and purchased the building in 2020.

I developed a budget in 2020 for renovating the building and installing a restaurant. I was approved for an SBA loan which would cover about half of the expense. With help from a couple of investors, I came up with the rest of the funds. However, like all of you, the project was hit with the effects of inflation over the past year or so. Every time I went to buy lumber or other materials, the price had gone up from my previous purchase. Materials and services have increased nearly 30% in price since my original budget. As a result, I am over $100,000 short of completing the project. I have exhausted my funds and my access to bank funds. I realize that I now need to ask for help from others who feel as strongly as I do about preserving history.

By donating to my fundraiser, you will become a part of the restoration of the Rauh Building and its continued role in the community. Funds will be used to complete the installation of utilities and furnish the restaurant. We have replaced the roof with an all new TPO membrane roof. We have completely rebuilt an exterior wall where a former drugstore frontage was located. We have installed all new floor joists and sub-flooring, and rooms are framed. All of this took much more money than we researched in 2020. We are not a big business, so we do not have the access to funds that businesses have. We are just a family, building a business to realize a dream for our family and the community.

Don’t be intimidated by the amount we need. Any donation, regardless of size, will be greatly appreciated. If you don’t feel you can donate at this time, please share the link for the fundraiser with your social media friends, even those who do not live in Newell. People come from all over the country to Newell to visit the Fiesta Tableware Company (formerly Homer Laughlin China Company) and the Mountaineer Casino and Resort, and the restored Rauh Building would be a great destination for visitors. If you are local, stop at the building and I can show you what your donation will accomplish! When the project is completed, I feel that it will not just belong to me, but to the community as well.

Here are some photos of what we started with and where we have come.